Geranium plant named ‘Ballurscar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Ballurscar’, characterized by its semi-double type, medium red scarlet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with strong zonation, and vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Ballurscar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred by the cultivar name ‘Ballurscar’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during May 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars with unique flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and a vigorous, upright growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Rumba Fire ‘Fisfire’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,489, characterized by its semi-double type dark scarlet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with distinct zone, and mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Rocky Mountain™ Red ‘Fip 553’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,961, characterized by its semi-double type deep red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with medium zone, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Ballurscar’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, medium red scarlet-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with strong zonation; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in foliage color and plant height. The female parent has stronger zonation and is taller than plants of the new cultivar. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and umbel size. The male parent has darker red-colored flowers and has larger umbels than plants of the new cultivar.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Rocky Mountain™ Dark Red ‘Fisrodark’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,513. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Fisrodark’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a stronger zonation color         than plants of ‘Fisrodark’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is         lighter in color than plants of ‘Fisrodark’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Ballurscar’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Ballurscar’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of ‘Ballurscar’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Ballurscar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 15, 2007 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Ballurscar. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Rumba Fire ‘Fisfire’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.             12,489.         -   Male parent.—Rocky Mounting™ Red ‘Fip 553’, U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 13,1961. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 8 to 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.6 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately 24.0             cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 3.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 5.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 9.8 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             27D. Color of young stem: 144D. Color of mature stem: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 6. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem; blade             is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin: Create,             palmately lobed. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cordate. Venation             pattern: Palmate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             8.1 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 8.9 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and nonglandular hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs, dense on venation. Gland color: 27D. Color of upper             surface of young foliage: 137A with strong zonation of N187A             and with venation of 144A. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: 138B with venation of 138C. Color of upper surface             of mature foliage; 137B with strong zonation of N187A and             venation of 144A. Color of lower surface of mature foliage:             138B with venation of 138D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.9 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             27D. Color: 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Ballurscar’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             12 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel. Positioned above foliage.             Quantity of fully open umbels per plant: Approximately 1.             Quantity of developing umbels per plant. Approximately: 3.             Fragrance: Slight. Length or height: Approximately 7.3 cm.             Width: Approximately 11.3 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers             per inflorescence: Approximately 30.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 10.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 29B. Color: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Sepal             texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 29B. Petal texture:             Glabrous. Petal color: 43A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 4.8 cm.             Depth: Approximately 9.0 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 6 to 8 petals and 2 to 3             irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire: Apex: Obtuse: Base:             Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.7 cm.             Width of upper petals: Approximately 1.9 cm. Length of lower             petals: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width of lower petals:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully             open. Closest to 44B with venation of 45A on lower             one-third. Color of lower surface of upper petals when fully             open: 43B with venation of 61B at base. Color of upper             surface of lower petals when fully open: Closest to 44B.             Color of lower surface of lower petals when fully open: 43B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.2             cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5. Shape:             Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Fused.             Length of upper sepal: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of upper             sepal: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of lower sepals:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately             3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 29B. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 144B with an overlay of 187B at base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.             Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 29B. Color:             144B transitioning to 187B at calyx.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: quantity of mature stamens:             Approximately 7 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 61A. Filament             length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament color: Pure white             with 61D at anther junction. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: 30C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: 5 branched.             Stigma length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma color: 185A.             Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 185A. Ovary             length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent. Ovary color: 143C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed not fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Geranium has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Ballurscar’, substantially as herein shown and described. 